The Cold War

1. The Cold War The USSR vs. The USA

2. Canada and The Cold War • The Cold War was a war of words, propaganda, espionage and economic pressure between western democracies and the USSR • Lasted from 1945-1991 when the Soviet Union Collapsed • After WWII the Soviet Union felt they should get control of European countries to help them rebuild • U.S. Disagreed. Did not want European countries to become Communist

3. Atomic (Nuclear) Weapons • The Americans and Soviets raced to develop new weapons of mass destruction • In 1952, the U.S exploded the first hydrogen bomb • 1957, Soviets successfully launched the world’s first rocket to leave the earth’s atmosphere • U.S. does the same and creates intercontinental missiles with nuclear warheads

4. Atomic (Nuclear) Weapons • Prime Minister Diefenbaker had a lot of pressure from American President Kennedy to have nuclear weapons on Bomarc missiles • Prime Minister Diefenbaker refused to have nuclear weapons on Canadian soil

5. Fears • Fear was created since both countries had the technology of nuclear weapons and the means to send missiles from great distances • People were fearful of Soviet spies infiltrating the Canadian Government • The Americans arrested Ethel and Julius Rosenburgfor supposedly passing atomic secrets to the Soviets – they were executed • While Julius likely was guilty there is still little evidence to prove Ethel guilty • 1st case of executing civilians for espionage in U.S. history

6. Igor Gouzenko • Was a cipher clerk at the Soviet embassy in Ottawa in 1943 • He discovered that Soviet intelligence operated several spy rings in Canada • Took documents showing this activity • Canadian officials arrested 12 suspects and others were taken following this • He has to be protected for the rest of his life and was given a fake identity

7. Korean War • The Soviet controlled North Korea invaded the American-supported South Korea in 1950 • The Canadian government was originally reluctant to send troops but eventually sided with the Americans • The was lasted until 1953 • Canadian Statistics • 22,000 Canadian Soldiers fought • 309 were killed • 1,202 were injured • 32 became POWs

8. The Berlin Wall • East (Russian Controlled) and West Germany (Democratically Controlled) had split opinions about the creation of a Communist Germany • East Germany claimed they erected the wall in 1961 to protect themselves from the “fascist” elements of the west • Actually, the Wall was erected in 1961 because more than 2.6 million East Germans escaped to West Berlin or West Germany from 1949-1961 • The barrier included barbed wire placed along large concrete walls, which restricted a wide area that contained anti-vehicle trenches, and other defences

9. The Avro Arrow • The Avro Arrow was a twin engine, supersonic jut – the most advanced jet airplane ever built at its time • In 1949 the Canadian government paid 2 million dollars for each of these jets • They were created because of fears of Soviet bombers over the Canadian North • In 1957 the first Avro Arrow was unveiled to the public

10. The Avro Arrow • Diefenbaker cancelled all orders in 1959 for more jets • Felt that Soviet bombers were no longer a threat • The cost for each jet was too high • A.V. Rowe the plane’s manufacturer, fires all employees, destroys all existing planes, all plans, drawings, photographs, and films associated with the planes because of orders from the government